HERNDON, VA—The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) has released two documents to help manufacturers reduce the risk of tin whiskers in lead-free products.
The first is JEDEC standard JESD22A121, "Test Method for Measuring Whisker Growth on Tin and Tin Alloy Surface Finishes," and the second is the updated "Recommendations on Lead-Free Finishes for Components Used in High-Reliability Products," from the iNEMI Tin Whisker User Group.
The JEDEC standard provides: an industry-standard method of measuring and comparing whisker propensity for different plating or finish chemistries and processes; a consistent inspection protocol for tin whisker examination; and a standard reporting format.